The group of Chinese Type-001A aircraft carriers moved through the Taiwan Strait and were followed by US and Japanese warships.

Taiwan has rapidly deployed more warships and surveillance aircraft led by the Type-001A, China's first domestic aircraft carrier. The United States and Japan have also deployed a number of warships that follow the Chinese fleet, the Taiwanese defense agency said today.

The Pentagon, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and the Ministry of Defense have not commented on the information.

China considers Taiwan a part of its territory waiting for reunification, including by force if necessary and asserting that crossing the strait is a violation of sovereignty, while the US and many countries consider this route to be a maritime area. international. The US Navy has recently increased the frequency of its presence in the Taiwan Strait despite strong protests from Beijing.

China started building the Type-001A in 2013 based on the design of the Liaoning aircraft carrier but applied a number of modifications to increase the aircraft's carrying capacity. According to media reports, the Type-001A can carry at least 36 J-15 fighters, one and a half times more than Liaoning, and many helicopters to increase its combat capability.

In May 2018, China's Ministry of Defense said the Type-001A had reached its initial operational capability. However, this aircraft carrier was continuously put to the test in early August this year, making many experts suspect there was a serious problem that needs to be fixed and the Type-001A is difficult to put into service in This year as expected of Beijing.

Location of the Taiwan Strait. Graphics: FT.